Good morning, I’m Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC.
I celebrated my eighth anniversary here on Sunday! Looking back on the years, I’m proud that we have had such a productive and purpose-filled partnership. Even if we don’t always agree. And like most families, we won’t—but that’s what makes us stronger and work better and harder for riders.
When I walked in the door, congestion pricing was the hot button issue. It’s still a hot topic, with pending lawsuits, but also because of the incredible results we’re seeing. Fewer cars entering the zone, air quality mitigation projects underway, and – critically important – essential money for vital transit infrastructure like accessibility upgrades, signal and substation improvements, new train cars and buses, and more on the horizon.
We also fought together for transit funding during the pandemic, bringing home some $4 billion from the feds to keep the system running. Today, we’re still fighting in Washington to ensure that funding for transit is restored to enacted levels as the next Surface Transportation Authorization is negotiated, or better. Cutting grants is bad enough, changing the rules in the middle is worse, and gutting advance appropriations has the potential to reverberate not just across the private sector but could also put a higher burden on riders at the fare box.
We’re incredibly fortunate that Governor Hochul is so invested in transit and those of us who rely on it. Keeping the state’s eye on the funding prize is going to continue to be critical as out year gaps loom. We’ve been advocating for ongoing operating money with you for years, and will continue to make our voices heard in Albany.
This next year offers even more ways we hope to work together to benefit riders, including 30 day and single day fare caps for OMNY; a CityTicket Weekly or Monthly and a Fair Fares expansion to the railroads; BRT expansion and improving bus speeds; and even more affordable options for riders across the system.
As they say, the best is yet to come!